By Colton Pouncy, Matt Schneidman and Amos Morale III

The 2024 Detroit Lions are officially off to their best start in franchise history. With a 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, the Lions also clinched a spot in the playoffs.

After a competitive second half featured five lead changes, the Lions took the victory behind an 11-play, 53-yard game-winning drive in the final three minutes. With 43 seconds left, Detroit coach Dan Campbell embraced his gutsy playcalling reputation by converting a fourth-and-1 from the Green Bay 21.

Two plays later, Jake Bates hit a 35-yard field goal to give the Lions (12-1) their 11th straight win.

The late fireworks saw Detroit overcome both a strong performance from Packers running back Josh Jacobs, who scored three touchdowns, and continued injuries on defense. Lions star defensive lineman Alim McNeill was ruled out with a head injury to start the second half, joining a growing list of key players Detroit’s defense has had to win without.

One of Campbell’s best wins yet

An absolutely massive win for the Lions. They were shorthanded defensively coming in. They lost even more as the game played out. They were facing a Packers team that was on a hot streak, looking to climb the NFC North standings in the final month of the season. And yet, it didn’t matter.

The Lions got just enough from their defense. Their offense came through in every way. Bates won it as time expired, in dramatic fashion. This is one of the best wins of the Campbell era. A program win in every sense of the term. — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat writer

Detroit now has breathing room atop NFC

The Lions are now back in the playoffs for the second consecutive years, amid what’s shaping up to be a special season. They are 12-1 for the first time in franchise history. They’ve won 11 in a row for the first time in franchise history. They’ve swept the Packers, and are 4-0 in the NFC North this season.

This win gives them breathing room in the race for the No. 1 seed. They can finish the year 3-1 in their final four games and still secure the No. 1 seed and a second consecutive division title — largely because of this win and the tiebreaker implications of it. You cannot understate how huge this win was for Detroit. — Pouncy

Packers defense got carved up

In the first Packers-Lions matchup this season, Green Bay’s defense only allowed 17 points in rainy conditions and held the Lions to a modest 3.9 yards per rush on 32 carries.

Jeff Hafley’s unit wasn’t nearly as good on Thursday night inside Ford Field, allowing a season-high 34 points in the three-point loss. Green Bay was fine against the run, but Jared Goff carved them up to the tune of 32 completions on 41 attempts for 283 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. The Packers especially had trouble defending screens, which other teams will surely try to exploit, and left far too many pass-catchers wide open all game with a depleted secondary. — Matt Schneidman, Packers beat writer

Jacobs strong season continues

Jacobs said back in Green Bay this week that he loves games with high stakes like Thursday night’s and relishes the chance to prove both himself and his team right. It’s safe to say he did both.

The first-year Packer ran 18 times for 66 yards and tied a career high with three rushing touchdowns, which he also achieved two games ago against the San Francisco 49ers. Jacobs eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing on the season for the fourth time in six seasons and now has seven rushing touchdowns in the last three games after having four in the first 10 games of the season. — Schneidman

Love improved as the game went on

After a dismal first half in which he completed only 3-of-7 passes for 31 yards, Jordan Love played like a $220 million quarterback in the second half. No play illustrated his ability better than when he dodged a free rusher deep in his own territory in the fourth quarter and lofted a dime to wide receiver Christian Watson down the left sideline for a 29-yard gain.

Love finished the game 12-of-20 for 206 yards and a touchdown in the loss after going 9-of-13 for 175 yards and three touchdowns in the second half while logging his third consecutive game without an interception. — Schneidman

Required reading

(Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)